Mariners interview longtime Giant to take helm

SEATTLE -- Ron Wotus is the latest name to emerge as a candidate for the Mariners managerial vacancy, as Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik on Friday interviewed the longtime Giants bench coach, according to a baseball source.

Wotus, 52, has been in the Giants organization the past 25 years, including the last 15 on its Major League coaching staff.

The Connecticut native managed in the Giants' Minor League system from 1991-97 and earned two Manager of the Year awards while compiling a 554-412 record. He joined the Giants' staff in 1998 as Dusty Baker's third-base coach, and then became the bench coach in 1999, a position he has since held on a team that won World Series titles in 2010 and '12.

Wotus is the longest-tenured coach in Giants history, having worked with three different managers. He stayed with the club when Felipe Alou replaced Baker and again when Bruce Bochy took over in 2007.

Wotus was an infielder who played professionally for 11 years, including parts of 1983 and '84 with the Pirates in his only Major League action. He finished his playing career in the Giants organization before they hired him as a coach.

Wotus is the fourth name to emerge from Zduriencik's search to replace Eric Wedge, who stepped down after his third season at the helm. A's bench coach Chip Hale and Padres bench coach Rick Renteria are known to be among those who also interviewed last week, and Tigers hitting coach and former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon told MLB.com he would interview this week.

Zduriencik was in Seattle over the weekend but flew back to Arizona on Sunday night and is continuing the interview process in Phoenix this week. He is believed to be having preliminary talks with a large group of candidates before narrowing the search.

The Mariners are one of three teams still looking for a manager, along with the Tigers and the Cubs, with the Reds having promoted pitching coach Bryan Price and the Nationals reportedly having reached agreement with D-backs third-base coach Matt Williams.

Teams are discouraged from announcing managerial hires during the World Series, so no further announcements are expected until the Red Sox and Cardinals conclude play this week.